Artificial vision intraocular implant device

ABSTRACT

An intraocular implant device for restoring, augmenting, or improving vision of a user, the implant including an intraocular implant body shaped for positioning inside a lens chamber of an eye, the body having an anterior side facing the cornea of the eye, and a posterior side facing the retina of the eye; a photoelectric sensor disposed on the anterior side of the body; wherein the photoelectric sensor is operable to receive incident light through the cornea and to convert the received light into electrical energy for use with one or more circuit components disposed on the body, and wherein the photoelectric sensor is nearly simultaneously operable to convert the received light into image data. The ocular implant device may include a projector for projecting the image data onto the retina of a user. The ocular implant may include a wireless receiver for receiving image data transmissions from an external source.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patentdisclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patentfile or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/812,433 filed Nov. 14, 2017 entitled ARTIFICIAL VISION INTRAOCULARIMPLANT DEVICE, which claims priority to and benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/517,894 filed Jun. 10, 2017 entitled INTRAOCULARIMPLANT DEVICE, which is herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to ophthalmologic devices forimplantation into the eye, and more particularly to intraocular implantdevices and associated power supplies for enhancing or restoring visionin humans and animals.

Many people experience impaired vision as a result of cornealdysfunction or damage, lens dysfunction or damage, or other conditionsof the eye that lead to inability of light to properly pass through theeye to the retina. Various medical procedures have been developed toattempt to correct these types of problems to improve or to restorevision. For example, lens replacement procedures are often used toremove a damaged or occluded lens from the eye. An artificialintraocular lens implant may be inserted into the eye through a smallincision in the cornea during a surgical procedure to replace theremoved lens. Such procedures are helpful to improve conditions such ascataracts or occluded lenses.

However, such conventional procedures for replacing occluded or damagedlenses with replacement intraocular lens implants are often inadequateto restore or enhance vision of patients with corneal conditions. Aslight initially enters the eye through the cornea, any conditions of thecornea which scatter or block light are generally not amenable totreatment via artificial lens replacement procedures. Although manycorneal replacement procedures do exist, they are often inadequate inimproving or restoring sight. Additionally, such procedures requireextensive healing times and may cause other complications in the eye.

What is needed are improvements in devices and methods for improving orrestoring vision in patients with impaired cornea or lens tissue in theeye.

BRIEF SUMMARY

This Brief Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides an intraocularphotoelectric power supply system (IO-PEPS) for providing power to oneor more microelectronic devices implanted into a human or animal eye.The intraocular photoelectric power supply system provides an implantshaped and sized to fit inside the intraocular lens chamber after anatural lens has been removed. The implant device of the intraocularphotoelectric power supply system may be inserted into the lens chamberthrough a small hole in the cornea utilizing conventional lensreplacement surgical tools and techniques. The implant device includesone or more photo-sensors, such as but not limited to a photoelectricdevice configured to convert incident light into electricity, such as aphotovoltaic cell. The photo-sensor or photo-sensor array is positionedon the anterior side of the implant device such that light passingthrough the cornea will be incident on the sensor or sensor array whenthe implant device is housed in the lens chamber of the eye. Theincoming light irradiating the sensor or sensor array is converted toelectricity, and is thus available for use by other electronics includedon the implant device or otherwise installed within the eye. Theincoming light may be specifically tuned to a desired frequency,wavelength, quantity, etc. for optimized power generation using thephotoelectric device. The generated electricity may be used immediately,or may be stored in a power storage medium such as a battery on theimplant or in the eye for later use.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes an intraocularprojection device configured for implantation into an intraocular cavityformed in the lens chamber after a natural lens is removed. Theprojector implant device, or artificial projector lens implant, includesan implant having an anterior side oriented toward the cornea and aposterior side oriented toward the retina. An optical light emitter, orprojector, is installed on the posterior side of the implant facing backinto the eye toward the retina. The projector is operable to emit lightfrom the implant located in the lens chamber through the eye toward theretina, thereby forming a desired light pattern on the retina. Theemitted light pattern from the projector corresponds to an image to beprocessed by the user's brain, and may simulate a natural light arrayassociated with a real or artificial image. The projector implant deviceis miniaturized such that the projector is compact enough to fit on anormal-sized lens implant in the intraocular lens chamber after removalof the natural lens of the eye.

In some embodiments, the implant includes both a projector and aphotoelectric device of an intraocular photoelectric power supply toprovide electrical power for the projector. The projector is positionedon the posterior side of the lens implant facing the retina, and thephotoelectric array is positioned on the anterior side of the implantfacing the cornea. Natural or artificial light entering the cornea isincident on the photoelectric array on the anterior side of the implantinside the lens chamber, and the electrical power generated by thephotoelectric array is transferred to the projector located on theposterior side of the implant facing the retina. The generatedelectrical power is used to power the projector to emit photons in alight pattern corresponding to a desired image onto the retina.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure provides an intraocularimplant device configured for implantation into the lens chamber afterremoval of a natural lens. The intraocular lens implant device includesa projector on the posterior side facing toward the retina, aphotoelectric array on the anterior side facing toward the cornea, andan external light source spaced from the eye configured to irradiate abeam of light through the cornea onto the photoelectric array. The lightfrom the light source is tuned to provide optimal photoelectricconversion into electricity using the specific photoelectric materialinstalled on the implant. The external light source may be operated withan intensity much higher than natural light because the light from thelight source is not incident on the retina, but is rather blocked by theartificial intraocular lens implant and used for photoelectricgeneration of electric power for use by micro-electronics within the eyesuch as but not limited to the projector on the intraocular implantdevice.

Numerous other objects, advantages and features of the presentdisclosure will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art upon areview of the following drawings and description of a preferredembodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an eye with an open lenschamber having a natural lens removed.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an eye with anintraocular implant device in accordance with the present disclosurepositioned for installation into the open lens chamber of the eye.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an intraocular implant device inaccordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an intraocular implant device inaccordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an eye with anintraocular implant device in accordance with the present disclosureinstalled in the lens chamber, and an external light source irradiatingthe anterior side of the intraocular implant device through the cornea.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an eye with anintraocular implant device in accordance with the present disclosureinstalled in the lens chamber, and an external light source irradiatingthe anterior side of the intraocular implant device through the corneawhile the intraocular implant device receives a wireless image datasignal from a remote transmitter.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an intraocular implantdevice including an intraocular photoelectric power supply and anexternal light source irradiating light through the cornea onto thephotoelectric array included on the implant installed in the lenschamber in the eye.

FIG. 8a is a schematic view of a power harnessing digital camera usingcolor filters for light color division.

FIG. 8b is a schematic view of a power harnessing digital camera usingprisms for light color division.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of power harnessing digital camera using astacked multi-junction array for chrominance determination.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an intraocular implant device with anpower harnessing digital camera, power supply, and a projector.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an intraocular implant device with anpower harnessing digital camera, power supply, and projector beforeimplantation into the lens cavity.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an intraocular implant device with anpower harnessing digital camera, power supply, and projector afterimplantation into the lens cavity.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of an intraocular implant device with apower harnessing digital camera, power supply, projector, and wirelesstransceiver.

FIG. 14 is a view of an exemplary system having an intraocular implantdevice with a power harnessing digital camera, power supply, projector,and wireless transceiver receiving data from an external device.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of an intraocular implant device with apower harnessing digital camera, power supply, projector, wirelesstransceiver, and processor.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of an intraocular implant device with apower harnessing digital camera, a power supply, projector, wirelessreceiver, and processor.

FIG. 17 is a view of an exemplary system having an intraocular implantdevice with a power harnessing digital camera, power supply, projector,wireless transceiver, and processor receiving and/or sending data tosecondary devices.

FIG. 18 is a view of an exemplary system having an intraocular implantdevice with a power harnessing digital camera, power supply, projector,wireless receiver, and processor receiving data from secondary devices.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of an extraocular lens.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of an extraocular lens having a powerharnessing digital camera, a power supply, a projector, and a wirelessreceiver.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view of an extraocular lens positioned radiallyoutward on the cornea of a user.

FIG. 22 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an extraocular lenspositioned radially outward on the cornea of a user, and an externallight source irradiating the extraocular lens.

FIG. 23 is a view of an exemplary system having an intraocular implantdevice being recharged by an optimized light source on a contact lens.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the making and using of various embodiments of the presentinvention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated thatthe present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts thatare embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specificembodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways tomake and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of theinvention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerousequivalents to the specific apparatus and methods described herein. Suchequivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention andare covered by the claims.

In the drawings, not all reference numbers are included in each drawing,for the sake of clarity. In addition, positional terms such as “upper,”“lower,” “side,” “top,” “bottom,” etc. refer to the apparatus when inthe orientation shown in the drawing, or as otherwise described. Aperson of skill in the art will recognize that the apparatus can assumedifferent orientations when in use.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an example schematicof an eye 10, showing a cornea 12 through which light initially entersthe eye. Eye 10 includes a retina 14 on the opposite side of the eyepositioned to receive the incoming light. The sclera 16 surrounds theexterior of the eye 10. A lens is typically positioned in lens chamber18. The iris 22 provides an opening allowing light to pass from theanterior chamber 24 into the lens chamber 18. Many conventionalprocedures are currently known for removal of a damaged or occluded lensfrom lens chamber 18. For example, in cataract surgery a damaged lensmay be phaco-emulsified using a tool to break up the lens. The broken-uplens may then be aspirated from the eye using a negative pressure, andreplaced with a liquid solution to maintain the form of the empty lenschamber 18. Following such procedures, an artificial intraocular lensimplant is inserted into the empty lens chamber 18 using known tools andtechniques. Such implant procedures are easily reversed.

The present disclosure provides a new type of implant device forinstallation into an empty lens chamber 18, as shown in FIG. 1. Forexample, as seen in FIG. 2, an intraocular implant device 40 is shownoutside of the eye 10 for implantation into empty lens chamber 18 of eye10. Intraocular implant device 40 includes an anterior side 48positioned to face cornea 12 after implantation, and a posterior side 50positioned to face retina 14 after implantation. Intraocular implantdevice 40 includes numerous technological innovations, and is operableto provide artificial sight improvement or sight restoration.

Intraocular Photoelectric Power Supply (IO-PEPS)

One aspect of intraocular implant device 40 provides an electrical powersupply configured to generate electrical power for use by on-boardelectronics on the intraocular implant device 40 or alternatively housedwithin the eye. As such, the intraocular implant device 40 includes anintraocular photoelectric power supply (IO-PEPS) device.

As seen in FIG. 3, in some embodiments, intraocular implant device 40includes a body 42 having an anterior side 48. A photoelectric array 44including one or more photoelectric sensors is positioned on anteriorside 48. Such sensors include any suitable photovoltaic or photoelectricsensors known in the art capable of converting incident light 56received upon photoelectric array 44 into electricity. Photoelectricarray 44 covers a portion of the surface of the anterior side 48 ofimplant device 40. Photoelectric array 44 includes at least oneelectrical output operable to transmit electric power to a circuitcomponent. In some embodiments, photoelectric array 44 is coupled to apower supply 54, as shown in FIG. 3. Power supply 54 includes anysuitable power converter or power storage device on intraocular implantdevice 40. Power supply 54 in some embodiments includes a batteryconfigured for storing electrical power generated by photoelectric array44 for later use by one or more other circuit components. Power supply54 may be continuously recharging as additional incoming light isincident on photoelectric array 44 and also simultaneously distributingelectrical power to other circuit components.

Intraocular implant device 40 is generally opaque when housed within thelens chamber 18 such that incident light 56 entering the eye does notpass optically through the lens body 42. Thus, all incident lightentering the eye may be utilized by photoelectric array 44 for energyconversion. As such, the incident light 56 entering the eye may bemanipulated to various characteristics for optimization of photoelectricconversion by photoelectric array 44. For example, in some embodiments,various photoelectric cells used in photoelectric array 44 provideimproved energy conversion efficiencies when the incident light 56 has achrominance in a spectral bandwidth tuned specifically to the propertiesof the photoelectric junctions.

Additionally, because the intraocular implant device 40 is generallyopaque, and because the cornea may generally withstand greater luminancethan the retina can, the incident light 56 may be further tuned to haveincreased luminance over natural light to further optimize energyconversion in photoelectric array 44. Thus, the incident light 56 may begenerated using an external light source with modulated chrominance andluminance characteristics as compared to natural light to furtherimprove power generation from the intraocular photoelectric powersupply.

Your Eye as the Screen (YEATS)

One application of the IO-PEPS feature on an intraocular implant device40 is to power a projector device 46, shown for example in FIG. 3,housed on the same implant device 40 or otherwise disposed within theeye 10. For example, projector 46 may include any suitable light emitterpositioned within the eye in an orientation to project a generated image58 onto the retina. The emitted light from the projector 46 is incidenton the retina much in the way natural light may be incident on theretina after passing through the cornea and the lens. However, inpatients with damaged cornea tissue or damaged lens tissue, by the timethe light entering the eye makes it to the retina the light pattern isgreatly distorted or blocked entirely, causing vision to be distorted orblurred, or causing blindness. By placing a rearward-facing projector 46on an intraocular implant device 40, an artificial image may beprojected onto the retina to simulate natural light, thereby allowing auser to see the artificial image generated by the projector much likethe patient would see normally using natural light. A significantdifference is that, when using projector 46, the generated image 58 maybe controlled to include image data from any source, so the patient'svision may be enhanced or replaced entirely over the field of viewavailable from natural light.

During use, projector 46 is powered by electric power generated on-boardthe intraocular implant device 40 using photoelectric array 44.Photoelectric array 44 generates enough electric power to operateprojector 46 either directly, or through a power supply 54. In someapplications, projector 46 may be turned off remotely while allowingphotoelectric array 44 to charge power supply 54. Once a sufficientamount of energy is stored in power supply 54, projector 46 may beturned on wirelessly, and photons may be emitted by projector 46 usingone or more light emitters. The generated image 58 is then illuminatedonto retina 14 through the eye. The retina 14 processes the incidentlight much like it would natural light, forming an image in the brainand allowing a user to perceive the image.

The generated pattern of photons or a generated image 58 projected ontothe retina 14 is generated by projector 46 using an input signal 66received by a wireless receiver 52 in some embodiments, as seen in FIG.3 and in an alternative embodiment in FIG. 4. Input signal 66 includesinformation associated with the photon pattern to be generated by one ormore light emitters within projector 46. Thus, the projector 46 isconfigured to receive a digital input signal including the image data,and to emit photons from the light projector onto the retina in apattern representative of the image data. The input signal 66 is passedto intraocular implant device 40 wirelessly from a remote transmitter64. The input signal 66 is passed to a wireless receiver 52 housedon-board the implant device 40 or alternatively housed at anotherlocation within the eye. In some embodiments, wireless receiver 52 isintegrated onto projector 46 such that the two are combined as a singleunit with wireless data receiver or transmission capabilities. Imagedata transmitter 64 includes any suitable external device forcommunicating an input signal 66 to intraocular implant device 40, andspecifically to wireless receiver 52 on intraocular implant device 40.Any suitable wireless signal transmission protocol for transmitting dataor analog signals associated with imagery may be used for input signal66.

Once the input signal 66 is received by intraocular implant device 40,the signal is passed to the projector 46, and the projector executesinstructions associated with the signal to generate photonsrepresentative of an image to be displayed on the retina. In someembodiments, the input signal 66 corresponds to photographs, text,illustrations, videos or any other image data.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in various embodiments, power supply 54is also connected to wireless receiver 52 in some embodiments. Thus,power supply 54 may simultaneously supply power to projector 46 and towireless receiver 52, if necessary. Alternatively, in some embodiments,photoelectric array 44 provides generated electricity directly towireless receiver and projector.

Wireless receiver 52 may be positioned at any suitable location onintraocular implant device 40, including on a common circuit boardstructure with one or more other circuit components, such as but notlimited to power supply 54, projector 46, photoelectric array 44 orother components. In some embodiments, one or more antennae areconnected to wireless receiver 66 to enhance reception of input signal66 from image data transmitter 64. In some embodiments, the device maybe configured to provide enhanced low-light vision or night vision byusing an external image data source that acquires an image using amaterial that responds more quickly than the retina, or by using amaterial that selectively processes incoming light with highersensitivity.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a system that may improvevision over natural analog vision. For example, when natural lightenters the eye, the light incident on the retina is limited by theamount of light entering through the cornea and lens. However, usingprojector 46, additional, higher resolution light patterns may beprojected onto the retina to improve or enhance vision over naturalanalog vision.

Artificial Vision System

Referring now to FIG. 5, an artificial vision system includes anintraocular implant device 40 including an intraocular photoelectricpower supply, including a photoelectric array 44 disposed on theanterior side of implant device 40 facing toward the cornea 12.Additionally, a projector 46 is disposed on the posterior side ofimplant device 40 facing the retina 14. An external light source 68generates a beam of artificial incident light 56 directed toward thecornea. The generated artificial light 56 is produced solely for thepurpose of powering the intraocular photoelectric power supply housed onintraocular implant device 40 installed in the lens chamber 18 withinthe eye 10. The generated artificial light 56 is tuned in bothchrominance (wavelength and frequency) and luminance (brightness) toprovide optimized energy conversion and electric power generation insidethe photoelectric array 44. The power generated by photoelectric array44 is used to charge power supply 54, and is subsequently used to powerprojector 46 to generate a pattern of photos or a generated image 58 forirradiation of the retina 14. Thus, the only light incident on theretina 14 is the light generated by the projector 46.

An external transmitter 64 sends a wireless input signal 66 tointraocular implant device 40. Input signal 66 is received by a wirelessreceiver 52 on the implant device 40, and the input signal 66 is passedto projector 46 to determine the pattern of generated photons or agenerated image 58 projected onto retina 14 by projector 46. Inputsignal 66 can include data packets corresponding to image data from anysource, such as an external camera.

As seen in FIG. 5, the incident light beam 56 generated by externallight source 68 is collimated in some embodiments to align with theopening of the iris 22 such that the light will be incident on thephotoelectric array 44. In some embodiments, photoelectric array 44 isdimensioned to correspond to the surface region on the body 42 ofintraocular implant device 40 aligned with the circular opening definedby the iris 22.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, in additional embodiments, externallight source 68 may include a wearable technology including one or morelight emitters spaced from the eye 10 and configured to emit light backtoward the eye 10 for the specific purpose of powering one or moreintraocular photoelectric power supply (IO-PEPS) devices housed in thelens chamber 18 in one or both eyes. For example, in some embodiments, awearable eyeglass frame 70 includes a first external light source 68 aand a second external light source 68 b. Frame 70 includes first andsecond temples 72 positioned to engage a user's head, as shown in FIG.7. Each external light source 68 emits a beam of artificial light backtoward the user's eye 10. The beam of generated external light 56 passesinto the eye through the cornea 12, and is incident on the photoelectricarray 44 on intraocular implant device 40 housed in lens chamber 18. Theexternal light source 68 includes any suitable source of light forpowering photoelectric array 44. The light emitted by external lightsource 68 does not pass directly through the eye to the retina. Instead,the light is converted into electrical energy via the photoelectricarray 44, and is then subsequently converted back into photons usingprojector 46 to project a desired pattern corresponding to an image ontothe retina 14.

As shown in FIG. 6, the image generated by projector 46 may come frommany different sources. In some embodiments, transmitter 64 a includes amobile device such as a cell phone, laptop, tablet computer, television,or other external electronic device. In some embodiments the transmitter64 a is a video camera which transmits a video feed. Transmitter 64 amay include locally stored image data to be used for input signal 66.Alternatively, transmitter 64 a may connect dynamically to a remoteimage storage database 76 via a network, or cloud 74 to access contentfor input signal 66. In some embodiments, digital image content, such asmovies, images, etc. are streamed from a remote database 76 via anetwork 74 using network signals 78 to provide access to image data forinput signal 66.

Referring further to FIG. 6, in some embodiments, an external camera 64b is also configured to produce an input signal 66. The camera 64 b ispositioned to acquire image data associated with the camera's field ofview. The camera 64 b may be local to a user, for example may beinstalled on eyeglass frame 70, or the camera 64 b may be remote suchthat the field of view of the camera is not in the vicinity of the user.The artificial vision system allows a user to dynamically change theinput on projector 46 such that the projector 46 may select to displayan image pattern associated with input signal 66 from first transmitter64 a or alternatively from camera 64 b. In additional embodiments,camera 64 b may instead include a second transmitter such as a cellphone, smart phone, laptop, tablet computer, television, or otherexternal electronic device. In some embodiments, projector 46 includesmultiple input channels, and is selectively operable to display imagedata associated with each separate channel, thereby allowing a user toswitch between input signals from different external image data sources.

Non-Medical Uses

The above referenced devices may also be utilized for non-medicalapplications such as consumer entertainment, professional visionaugmentation, virtual reality content generation and display, militaryapplications, or other non-medical applications. For example, in someembodiments, a user with an intraocular implant device 40 installed inone eye is able to selectively turn on the device to receive image datafrom any external source via input signal 66. The user may be able tomaintain a natural lens in the second eye to continue to rely on naturalanalog vision when not using device 40. As such, the intraocular implantdevice 40 provides an implantable brain-machine interface capable ofdelivering digital image content to the user through an image projecteddirectly onto the retina 14. The image may be manipulated in many waysprior to projection by projector 46 that are not possible via standardanalog light transmission through the cornea and lens. This makesenhanced, augmented and artificial vision possible.

Medical Uses

The above-referenced devices may also be used in medical applicationsfor sight restoration or sight improvement. In such medical applicationsa patient may receive an intraocular implant device 40 in the lenschamber of each eye. The patient may then utilize a wireless transmitter64 to transmit image data from an external source to each intraocularimplant device 40. The transmitter 64 includes a camera oriented towardthe user's local environment in some applications simulating naturalvision. Alternatively, transmitter 64 includes an auxiliary input fromsome other source of digital image content, such as computer, mobilephone, tablet or other source. Medical patients with conditions such ascornea damage may primarily rely on the intraocular implant devices 40to provide artificial vision where natural analog vision simply is nolonger possible due to the inability of light to properly enter and passthrough the eye to the retina.

The present disclosure further provides associated methods of modifying,improving, restoring, augmenting or restoring vision in humans andanimals using the previously-described devices and techniques. Forexample, a method of restoring vision in an eye comprises the steps of:(1) providing an intraocular implant device including an anterior sideand a posterior side, a photoelectric array on the anterior side, and aprojector on the posterior side; (2) positioning the intraocular implantdevice in the lens chamber of the eye such that the photoelectric arrayfaces the cornea and the projector faces the retina; (3) illuminatingthe photoelectric array with input light from an external light source;(4) converting the input light into electrical energy via thephotoelectric array; (5) powering the projector using the electricalenergy converted by the photoelectric array; and (6) projecting photonsgenerated by the projector onto the retina, wherein the projectedphotons correspond to digital image data received wirelessly by theintraocular implant device from a remote transmitter. The method mayfurther comprise sending a wireless input signal to the projector froman external transmitter, wherein the wireless input signal containsimage data; emitting photons from the projector in a patternrepresentative of the image data; providing an external light sourcepositioned to emit light towards the photoelectric sensor; receiving thelight in the photoelectric sensor; converting the light into electricalenergy; and powering the intraocular implant device with the electricalenergy.

Photoelectric Power Harnessing Camera (PEP-Cam)

Now referring to FIGS. 8-21, other embodiments may include a combinationof an intraocular projector 46 powered by an intraocular photoelectricpower supply (IO-PEPS) 54 where the image collector 64 or camera isintegrated with the photoelectric power supply 54 (a power harnessingdigital camera 80). In alternative embodiments, the power harnessingdigital camera may provide either color or grayscale images. Thus, thephotoelectric array 44 is both collecting the light 56 to power theintraocular device 40 as well as collecting the image data for theimages 66 that will be projected onto the retina 14. Both thephotoelectric array 44 and the camera 64 b perform a photoelectricconversion of light energy incident on the elements of the array 44 intoelectrical energy for use with one or more circuit components disposedon the intraocular implant body. Generally, a digital camera 64 bdetects the luminance and chrominance at each picture element (or pixel)and disregards the photoelectric power content of the light, whereas aphotoelectric array 44 aggregates the photoelectric energy generatedacross the element array and disregards the luminance and chrominance ofthe incident light at individual points or picture elements of thearray.

In one embodiment, the photoelectric array 44 and the digital camera 64b are functionally combined into the same device with a shared array,sharing a common light stream 56. Several methods may be employed toachieve the capturing of both the image, which can then be transmitted,and the energy to power the intraocular device 40. In some embodiments,the device is configured to generate color images.

Referring to FIG. 8a , a first embodiment divides the photoelectriccollector array 44 into individual picture elements (pixels). Manydigital cameras 64 b use color filters in conjunction with each pictureelement to filter certain wavelengths of light out. Each picture elementhas an overlay of color filters, typically red, green, and blue, thus,when incident light 56 enters the apparatus, each picture element isable to measure the amount of light 56 entering in the red spectrum, thegreen spectrum, and the blue spectrum. In the power harnessing camera, apower aggregation layer may be positioned posterior each picture elementor color energy measurement layer. The photoelectric element under eachcolor filter may be optimized for the color or frequency of light forwhich the corresponding color filter is configured to measure, thuscapturing the light energy that is activating the picture elements.

Referring to FIG. 8b , a second embodiment uses a similar system ofcapturing the chrominance by utilizing individual picture elements,however, color filters are substituted by prism 110 which separates thelight into a spectrum. The subdivided light energy components (red,green, and blue) can be measured to determine the picture elementschrominance for each image cycle while all of the light energy can beharnessed by the photoelectric array positioned behind the prism. Thus,instead of filtering which reduces the total light and frequencies beingreceived by each element of the photoelectric array, the full spectrumof incident light 56 may be collected.

Referring to FIG. 9, a third embodiment may utilize multilayer(multi-junction) photoelectric cells 120. The multi-junctionphotoelectric device may comprise layers of stacked photoelectric p-njunctions wherein each junction is receptive to a specific bandwidth oflight frequencies and permits other bandwidths of light to pass through.A first layer comprises an incident light surface 124. An incident lightsurface 124 is selected to allow photons which have an energy levelbelow a first specified frequency to pass through the incident lightsurface but captures photons having an energy level above the firstspecified frequency. A second layer 126, positioned below the incidentlight surface is selected to allow photons which have a second energylevel below a second specified frequency to pass through the secondlayer, wherein the layer captures photons at a frequency between thefirst specified frequency and the second specified frequency. In thismanner, a plurality of layers 124, 126 may be stacked to capture lightwithin a large spectrum. The layers 124, 126, 128 are stacked indescending magnitude of frequency, which allows light energycorresponding to a receptive frequency of each junction to be capturedby each individual layer. Photoelectric layers 124, 126, 128 that areindividually receptive to blue, green, and red may be used in a stack toform the basis of a picture element. This configuration provides forchrominance determination while permitting energy capture that isoptimized in the frequency band of each individual layer, thusharvesting energy across a full spectrum of light waves. The multilayeror multi-junction photoelectric array may also provide higher pixeldensities and image resolution.

Optimized light power may be supplied to the intraocular device 40 byplacing a rechargeable, optimized light-power source 68 on the inside ofa rechargeable epicorneal or extraocular device 90, such as but notlimited to a scleral contact lens. This allows the device 40 to receivepower even when the user's eye 10 is closed. Thus, a light emittingcontact lens may be worn by a user to charge the intraocular device asin FIG. 23. A rechargeable, optimized light-power source 68 may also beplaced on a spectacle-like device 70 with light aimed at the pupil of auser. These extraocular power sources may selectively comprise a camera64 b and transmitter on the front. These optimized light power sourcesmay be necessary for situations in which the photoelectric array 44 isnot capturing a sufficient amount of energy to power the intraoculardevice 40. Thus, these periods of intensified charging may allow theintraocular device 40 to receive sufficient energy to recharge theinternal power supply 54 on the device 40. The extraocular power sourcemay be removed and recharged.

Referring to FIG. 10, in some embodiments, the intraocular device 40comprises a power harnessing digital camera 80, a power supply 54, and aprojector 46. The power harnessing digital camera 80 is positioned onthe anterior side 48 of the intraocular device 40 proximate the cornea12 and the projector 46 is positioned on the posterior side 50 of theintraocular device 40 facing the retina 14 of a user. Incident light 56will travel through the cornea 12 of a user to the power harnessingdigital camera 80 which will capture the luminance and chrominance ofpixels, create a digital image, and capture photoelectric energy. Theenergy will be transferred from the power harnessing digital camera 80to the power supply 54. The digital image will be transmitted to theprojector 46. The projector 46 will receive power from the power supply54 and then project the digital image received from the power harnessingdigital camera 80 onto the retina 14 of a user. This integrated systemallows a user to process images in a more natural manner. The eye itselfwill control the direction of the camera 46 b for the frame of receptionof images. The power harnessing digital camera 80, the power supply 54,and the projector 46 are all mounted on the intraocular device 40 whichmay be implanted into the lens chamber 18 of a user.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, other embodiments may provide the userwith augmented reality. The intraocular device 40 may further comprise awireless receiver and transmitter 82. In this embodiment, a first imagereceived by the power harnessing digital camera 80 may be transmittedwirelessly to an extraocular device 64 such as a wireless device, acellular device, a smart phone or another computing device that mayprocess the first image. During processing, the wireless device or othercomputing device 64 may overlay a second image on top of the first imageto form an augmented image. The wireless device or other computingdevice 64 may then transmit the augmented image back to the projector 46via the wireless receiver 82. The augmented image is then transferred tothe projector 46 which then projects the augmented image to the retina14 of a user. This allows a user to experience an augmented reality byallowing the input to be altered and transmitted to the user.

Referring to FIGS. 15-18, another variation of the augmented realityembodiment of the intraocular device further comprises a processor 84.In this embodiment, the intraocular device 40 is capable of overlaying asecond image onto the first image via the processor 84 all within theintraocular device 40, thus resulting in a faster processing of theimage. Because the image is processed by the processor 84 directly inthe intraocular device 40, another embodiment may remove the wirelesstransmission 82 function of the intraocular device 40 and may onlycontain a wireless receiver 52. This would reduce the energy demands onthe intraocular device 40. The processor 40 is operable to overlayvarious sets of data onto digital data. For example, the processor 40may take a first set of digital data including GPS data and overlay thatdata onto a video feed, thus forming an overlaid image.

Referring to FIGS. 19-21, in other embodiments, the device 40 may be anextraocular device 90 comprising a power harnessing digital camera 80 orphotoelectric array, a power supply 54, and a projector 46. Theepicorneal, or extraocular device 90 can be worn like a contact lens,where the device rests radially outward on the cornea 12 of a user. Theextraocular device 90 may also have a wireless transceiver 82 andprocessor 84 as previously discussed to provide an augmented realityexperience for the user.

The augmented experience may include many functionalities such asoverlaying information such as navigation applications, electronic mailmessages, SMS messages, secondary video feeds, digital animations, etc.

In other embodiments, the intraocular and extraocular devices 40, 90 mayprovide an immersive experience. The projector 46 and wireless receiver52 may be used to transmit images and data directly to the eye 10, thuseffectively utilizing the user's eye 10 as the screen(Your-Eye-As-The-Screen or YEATScreen). Movies, videos, and other imagesmay be transmitted from a wireless devices 64 to the wireless receiver52, which then would transfer that data to the projector 46. Theprojector 46 would then project those images directly onto the retina 14of the user. The device 40 may also be implanted in only one eye 10 ofthe user.

FIG. 22 depicts an embodiment of an extraocular lens 90 positionedradially outward over the cornea 12 of a user. The extraocular lens 90is receiving incident light 56 from a device 68 a mounted radiallyoutward from the extraocular lens 90 of the user. The incident lightsource 68 a may be mounted on glasses 72 of a user. The incident lightsource 68 a may be used to power the extraocular lens 90, especiallywhen the extraocular lens 90 needs supplemental power because it is notable to receive and store enough power from natural incident light 56.

Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of thepresent invention of a new and useful ARTIFICIAL VISION INTRAOCULARIMPLANT DEVICE, it is not intended that such references to particularembodiments be construed as limitations upon the scope of thisinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An intraocular implant device, comprising: anintraocular implant body shaped for positioning inside a lens chamber ofan eye, the intraocular implant body having an anterior side facing acornea of the eye, and a posterior side facing a retina of the eye; aphotoelectric sensor disposed on the anterior side of the intraocularimplant body, wherein the photoelectric sensor is operable to receiveincident light through the cornea and to convert the incident light intoelectrical energy for use with one or more circuit components disposedon the intraocular implant body, and wherein the photoelectric sensor isalso operable to convert the incident light into image data.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, further comprising: a light projector disposed on theposterior side of the intraocular implant body, the light projectorconfigured to receive a digital input signal including the image data,and to emit photons from the light projector onto the retina in apattern representative of the image data.
 3. The device of claim 2,further comprising: an external light source spaced in relation to theintraocular implant body exterior to the eye, the external light sourceis operable to generate and emit the incident light through the corneaonto the photoelectric sensor disposed on the anterior side of theimplant body.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the photoelectric sensorcomprises a picture element operable to detect chrominance and luminanceof the incident light and a photoelectric element disposed proximate thepicture element.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the photoelectricsensor further comprises a light filter proximate the picture element,wherein the light filter is configured to permit specific wavelengths oflight to pass through to the picture element.
 6. The device of claim 4,wherein the photoelectric sensor further comprises a prism disposedanterior the picture element, wherein the prism separates incident lightaccording to wavelength.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein thephotoelectric sensor comprises a plurality of stacked photoelectric p-njunctions, wherein each stacked photoelectric p-n junction is receptiveto a specific bandwidth of light frequencies.
 8. An artificial visionsystem, comprising: an intraocular implant body shaped for positioninginside a lens chamber of an eye, the intraocular implant body having ananterior side facing a cornea of the eye, and a posterior side facing aretina of the eye; a power harnessing camera disposed on the intraocularimplant body, wherein the power harnessing camera is operable to producedigital data representing images received via incident light and is alsooperable to produce electrical energy from the incident light; aprojector disposed on the posterior side of the intraocular implantbody, wherein the projector is operable to project the images onto aretina of a user; and a power supply disposed on the intraocular implantbody and operable to receive power from the power harnessing camera andprovide power to the projector.
 9. The system of claim 8, furthercomprising a wireless receiver operable to receive secondary image datafrom an external source.
 10. The system of claim 9, further comprising aprocessor disposed on the intraocular implant body and operable tooverlay the secondary image data onto the digital data, forming anoverlaid image.
 11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a wirelesstransceiver operable to send and receive data
 12. The system of claim11, wherein the wireless transceiver is operable to send the digitaldata to an external device and is operable to receive second digitaldata from the external device.
 13. The system of claim 12, seconddigital data is a modified version of the digital data.
 14. The systemof claim 8, further comprising an external light power source operableto direct light energy towards the power harnessing camera.
 15. Anapparatus, comprising: an extraocular, epi-corneal device configured tobe positioned on an eye, the device including an anterior side facingaway from the eye; a photoelectric array disposed on the anterior sideof the device; a circuit component disposed on the device, wherein thecircuit component receives a signal from the photoelectric array. 16.The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the photoelectric array is a powerharnessing color digital camera.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, whereinthe signal includes both image data and electrical power.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 15, wherein the signal includes electrical power.